Data processing apparatus having a printer driver for changing an output destination

ABSTRACT

An application mounted in a data processing apparatus creates a document and issues a print request of the document. A printer driver receives the print request and creates print data by setting a format of the document as a specific format of model dependency, and changes a default output destination of the print data into a changed output destination. A spooler receives the print data and sends the print data to one of a plurality of image forming apparatuses designated by the changed output destination through a network interface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a data processing technique and, moreparticularly, to a technique to control a device to output a documentcreated by an information processing apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, with the spread of network techniques, personalcomputers are connected to an image forming apparatus, such as amulti-function peripheral (MFP), a page printer, etc., through a networkin many office environments so that print data is sent from the personalcomputers to the image forming apparatus to have the image formingapparatus perform a printing operation based on the print data. Aprinter server may be connected to the network so that a printingoperation is performed by the image forming apparatus under the controlof the printer server.

In the above-mentioned system, each personal computer can be connectedto a plurality of image forming apparatuses through the network. In sucha case, if there is no problem with respect to a security level and ifthe output print does not contain secret information such as individualinformation or personal information, there may be no serious problem ifa user of the personal computer mistakenly designates one of the imageforming apparatuses, which the user does not intend to use.

On the other hand, in a case where a created document requires ahigh-level security or a created document contains high-level individualinformation, there may be a serious problem if a user unintentionallysends a created document data to one of the image forming apparatuses,which is easily accessible by a third person.

This problem is caused by a print wizard of an application for creatinga document installed in a personal computer, which print wizard displaysa plurality of printer selection icons arranged close to each other on asingle screen page. That is, it is possible that a user mistakenlyselects a wrong icon to designate an image forming apparatus to be usedfor printing. As a result, there may be a problem in that, for example,a document to be output by a specific printer is undesirably output byan image forming apparatus, which is set in an open environment.

It is considered that the above-mentioned problem is caused by adoptionof architecture by a personal computer, which architecture permitsaddition of a limitless number of network printers to a network, withthe progress in a network technique. There are various techniques tolimit an output of an image forming apparatus connected to a network.Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2003-140867 (PatentDocument 1) discloses an information processing apparatus, which iscapable of changing an image forming apparatus to be used for printingin accordance with conditions of image forming apparatuses connected toa network. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2004-282273 (PatentDocument 2) discloses an office section management system, which iscapable of limiting and changing output processing requested by otheroffice sections in an image forming apparatus connected to a network.

The information processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1changes an image forming apparatus to be used for printing in accordancewith conditions of image forming apparatuses such as a printing load, amalfunction, etc. However, in a case where an image forming apparatus isin a normal operating condition, an output from the image formingapparatus concerned is not prevented even if the image forming apparatusconcerned has been mistakenly selected by a user. In such a case,because a processing speed of a present personal computer isconsiderably high, it is almost impossible to cancel the print outputwithout outputting at least a part of a document in a case where anundesired image forming apparatus is mistakenly designated.

According to the office section management system disclosed in PatentDocument 2, a correspondence table for an image forming apparatus toperform an output control for each office section is previously preparedin order to perform a print output control by identifying an officesection from a print request. Patent Document 2 discloses a printcontrol in a system in which a plurality of personal computers uses asingle image forming apparatus, but the print control does not aim tocontrol an access by a personal computer when a single personal computermanages a plurality of image forming apparatuses.

Further, in recent years, a so-called thin client, which is a clienthaving a minimum function, has attracted an attention from a view pointof a cost performance. The thin client mounts a requisite minimum numberof applications, and performs processing using server programs. It isnecessary, upon reception of a print request from such a thin client, toproperly perform printing without sending print data to an undesiredoutput destination. That is, in a present network print environment inwhich a personal computer or a thin client is capable of accessing aplurality of image forming apparatuses, it is necessary to provide adata processing apparatus and method to forcibly designate an imageforming apparatus, which a user intends to use for printing, even whenan operation of an image forming apparatus other than the image formingapparatus, which the user intends to use for printing, is started.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention, a data processing apparatuscomprises: an application configured to create a document and issue aprint request of the document; a printer driver configured to receivethe print request and create print data by setting a format of thedocument as a specific format of model dependency, and change a defaultoutput destination of the print data into a changed output destination;and a spooler configured to receive the print data and send the printdata to one of a plurality of image forming apparatuses designated bythe changed output destination through a network interface.

According to another aspect of the invention, a data processing methodperformed by a data processing apparatus comprises: creating a documentand issuing a print request of the document; receiving the print requestand creating print data by setting a format of the document as aspecific format of model dependency, and changing a default outputdestination of the print data into a changed output destination; andreceiving the print data and sending the print data to one of aplurality of image forming apparatuses designated by the changed outputdestination through a network interface.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a computer readablerecording medium stores a program for causing a computer to perform adata processing method performed by a data processing apparatus, thedata processing method comprising: creating a document and issuing aprint request of the document; receiving the print request and creatingprint data by setting a format of the document as a specific format ofmodel dependency, and changing a default output destination of the printdata into a changed output destination; and receiving the print data andsending the print data to one of a plurality of image formingapparatuses designated by the changed output destination through anetwork interface.

According to the invention, when creating a document in association witha specific business, a user of the data processing apparatus can surelyoutput a printed document from an image forming apparatus designated bythe user without using a default image forming apparatus, which isnormally used by the user, and, thereby achieving a safe and efficientprint output.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when readin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a printer network including data processingapparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of one of the data processingapparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process performed by the data processingapparatus;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process of step S304 illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a data structure of a correspondence tablemanaged by a print data processing part;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process of changing an image formingapparatus in a case where the change of the image forming apparatus isperformed in accordance with a keyword contained in a document;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a correspondence table used in the processillustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a network print system according to asecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a process performed by a business serverillustrated in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a GUI screen for designating an imageforming apparatus;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a GUI screen for automatically assigningan image forming apparatus;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a GUI screen when using a job name as asearch key in a setting operation using the GUI screen illustrated inFIG. 10; and

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a GUI screen displayed when a creation ofa setting file is designated through the GUI screen illustrated in FIG.12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A description will be given below, with reference to the drawings, ofembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a printer network including data processingapparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention. Theprinter network 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of dataprocessing apparatuses 110, 114, 116, and 118 connected to a network 126in a business office, business premises or the like. A printer server112 and a multi-function peripheral (MFP) 122, which is an example of animage forming apparatus, are also connected to the network 126. The dataprocessing apparatuses 110, 114, 116, and 118 output print data to theprinter server 112 or the MFP 122 through the network 126. A pageprinter 124 is connected to and managed by the printer server 112. Thepage printer 124 performs a print output operation in response to aprint request sent from the data processing apparatuses 110, 114, 116and 118.

Each of the data processing apparatus 110, 114, 116 and 118 can be a fatclient apparatus, a personal computer or a work station, which mountsvarious application programs to complete various processes. Because eachof the data processing apparatus 110, 114, 116 and 118 has the samestructure except for application programs mounted therein, a descriptionwill be given below of the data processing apparatus 110 as arepresentative. The data processing apparatus 110 includes a single coreor multiple core CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk drive unit, a networkinterface card (NIC), etc. The data processing apparatus 110 requeststhe MFP 122 or the page printer 124 to perform a print process under asuitable operating system (OS) such as Windows (registered trademark),UNIX (registered trademark) and LINUX (registered trademark).

The data processing apparatus 110 creates a document as electronic datacontaining document data, image data, multimedia data or the like. Thecreation of a document is performed by the CPU executing an applicationprogram and data, which are loaded to the RAM from the hard disk driveunit or the like. The data processing apparatus per se may serve as aserver.

The MFP 122 is configured as a so-called network printer, and receivesprint data created by the data processing apparatus 110 through thenetwork 126. The MFP 122 is provided with a user identification functionto identify a user of the MFP 122 (image forming apparatus). The useridentification is performed by identification information input fromuser's IC card or a password input by the user. Hereinafter, informationfor uniquely identifying a user of the printer network (business system)100, such as a user ID, a password, etc., may be referred to asidentification information. An access control of the MFP 122 isperformed based on the identification information.

The printer server 112 manages the page printer 124. The page printer124 is an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, an inkjetprinter or the like. In the printer network 100 illustrated in FIG. 1,the page printer 124 is connected to the network 126 via the printerserver 112. The page printer 124 is connected to the printer server 112through a bus such as USB or a network card mounted in the page printer124. The printer server 112 receives print data sent from the dataprocessing apparatus 100, and transfers the print data to the designatedpage printer 124 to have the page printer 124 perform printing based onthe print data.

The network 126 can include an Ethernet (registered trademark) such as1000 Base-TX, an optical network and a radio network specified by astandard such as IEEE 802.11. In the network 126, a bidirectionalcommunication is performed according to a packet communication base on aframe or TCP/IP protocol. The network 126 may include, other than alocal area network (LAN), a wide area network such as an Internet undera secure environment according to a virtual private network (VPN) or thelike.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the data processing apparatus100 according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 2, thedata processing apparatus 110 includes a plurality of functional partsor means, which are realized by a computer (CPU) executing a programloaded to the RAM. The program may be read from a computer readablerecording medium 128 (refer to FIG. 1) such as a CD-ROM, an SD card,etc., and is stored in the RAM or the ROM of the data processingapparatus 110.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the data processing apparatus 110 includes anetwork interface 210 and an I/O interface 220. The network interface210 receives data based on a TCP/IP protocol or the like through thenetwork 126, and outputs print data or processed data processed by thedata processing apparatus 100 through the network 126. The I/O interface220 receives an input from an inputting device such as a mouse, akeyboard, etc., and sends data and instructions such as an eventnotification to an application 280 through an event handler 250. The I/Ointerface 220 causes a display apparatus (not illustrated in the figure)to display a result of execution of an application via a graphics driveror the like in order to provide a user interface.

The application 280 provides the functions of a word processor and animage processing application and other functions. Specifically, theapplication 280 creates processed data by processing data, which isstored in a RAM or the like, in response to a user instruction. If auser desires to print the processed data created by an execution of theapplication 280, the user makes a graphical user interface (GUI)provided by the application 280 to display a print wizard in order toselect a print menu bar or the like displayed on the GUI to issue aprint command.

When a print command is issued, an instance of a format converting part240 is created, and print data is created with a format specific to animage forming apparatus such as the MFP 122 and the page printer 124. Inthe example illustrated in FIG. 2, the format converting part 240includes a drawing component part 240 a and a print processor 240 b. Forexample, the format converting part 240 may contain graphics displayinterface (GDI). If the user issues a print command of the processeddata through the application 280, the format converting part 240 callsthe drawing component part 240 a to create an instance of a drawingcomponent contained in the processed data.

The drawing component part 240 a sends a format specific to anapplication such as image metadata to the print processor 240 b in orderto change the format into a specific format including raster data, whichan image forming apparatus uses. Thus, in one embodiment, the datastructure may be registered as a data structure for registering a datavalue associated with drawing data and a data structure for registeringa data value for external transmission.

On the other hand, a text contained in the processed data is sent to theprinter driver 260 together with setting of a font, etc. The printerdriver 260 performs processing such as setting of a text, setting of aline interval and a character interval, setting of margins, setting of atext arrangement area in order to create a format specific to an imageforming apparatus.

The printer driver 260 is capable of creating print data in order tofurther control the image forming apparatus by describing the pagedescription language such as PDL or PJL in the page description languagedescribing area with respect to image data and the text during or afterthe above-mentioned processing. In order to create the print data of aformat specific to an image forming apparatus, the printer driver 260sends the created print data to the spooler 230 so that the spooler 230transfers the data being processed to the format converting part 240 athrough the print processor 240 b and the data is output from the dataprocessing apparatus 110 via the spooler 230 and the port monitorcontained in the spooler 23 at a stage of completion of the creation ofthe print data. The spooler 230 is configured to include the portmonitor for sending out the print data in accordance with an outputdestination of an image forming apparatus. The port monitor of thespooler 230 acquires, from the described data structure, outputdestination information such as an IP address or a host name of an imageforming apparatus to which the print data is sent, and sends theacquired output destination information to the image forming apparatusdesignated as an output destination through the network interface 210.

Furthermore, the printer driver 260 according to the present embodimentis provided with a print data processing part 290, which is mounted as aprogram-in-program or an add-in-program. The print data processing part290 accesses the text or the data managed by an instance of the formatconverting part 240, when the printer driver 260 is called by theinstance of the format converting part 240, in order to replace the textor detect a keyword contained in the text to process various kinds ofdata managed by the format converting part 240. In the presentembodiment, the printer driver 260 detects a keyword contained in thetext and changes the output destination of the port monitor by changing(rewriting) the output port name, the host name, the IP address, etc.,of an image forming apparatus of the data structure in association withthe detected keyword. After changing the output destination, the printdata is written in the spooler 230 in order to have the image formingapparatus corresponding to the changed output destination to perform anoutput operation.

Moreover, the data processing apparatus 110 mounts an output destinationdesignating part 270. The output destination designating part 270 isprovided as a functional module of the print data processing part 290.The output destination designating part 270 provides a graphics userinterface (GUI) for setting the above-mentioned keyword and registeringthe output destination information of an image forming apparatus, whichis to be changed as the output destination to enable a process ofoutputting the print data to the image forming apparatus designated bythe changed output destination, which is changed from the image formingapparatus registered as a default output destination.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process performed by the data processingapparatus 110. The process illustrated in FIG. 3 is started in stepS300, and the format converting part 240 receives, in step S301, adocument print command from the application 280. In step S302, a GDIinstance is created by the format converting part 240. In step S303, itis determined whether image data contained in the document print commandhas a format in which raster data is set. If it is determined that theformat of the image data is not a format in which raster data is set (NOof step S303), the process proceeds to step S307. In step S307, a formatconversion is performed by activating the print processor 240 b.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S303 that the format ofthe image data is a format in which raster data is set (YES of stepS303), the process proceeds to step S304. In step S304, the printerdriver 260 is called and activated to create print data, and a processof adding page description language and a process of changing(rewriting) the output destination information (address information) areperformed. In the process of changing the address information, theaddress information of an image forming apparatus set in the datastructure is changed (rewritten) into the address information of thedesignated image forming apparatus by referring to an apparatus listmanaged by the print data processing part 290.

Then, in step S305, the created print data is sent to the spooler 230 inorder to send the print data to the designated image forming apparatus.The designated image forming apparatus designated by the process ofchanging the address information is capable of performing a printingoperation without a problem by setting the data structure for settingthe image forming apparatus according to a form of an upwardcompatibility or setting an image forming apparatus, which can share thedata structure, to the apparatus list. Then, in step S306, the spooler230 sends the print data to the designated image forming apparatusthrough the port monitor by using a protocol such as TCP/IP to requestthe image forming apparatus to perform printing, and the process isended in step S308.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the process of step S304 illustrated in FIG. 3.An execution of the process of FIG. 4 is started in step S400. In stepS401, upon reception of the document print command, the instance of thedata structure used by the format converting part 240 is created. Then,in step S402, the print data processing part 290 determines whetherchanging the image forming apparatus is set by examining the settingdata. If it is determined in step S402 that changing the image formingapparatus is not set (NO of step S402), the process proceeds to stepS403. In step S403, the print data is created according to data set inthe data structure. Then, in step S404, a command of a page descriptionlanguage is added. Then, in step S405, the print data is written in theport monitor at a stage where RAW data, which is a format specific tothe image forming apparatus, is created. Then, it is determined in stepS406, whether document data still remains.

If it is determined in step S406 that document data still remains (YESof step S406), the process returns to step S403 to repeat the process ofstep S403 through step S406. If it is determined in step S406 thatdocument data does not remain (NO of step S406), the process proceeds tostep S409 where the process is ended.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S402 that changing theimage forming apparatus is set (YES of step S402), the process proceedsto step S407. Then, it is determined in step S407 whether the designatedimage forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus set as a default.If it is determined in step S407 that the designated image formingapparatus is the image forming apparatus set as a default (YES of stepS407), the process proceeds to step S403 to create the print data. Onthe other hand, if it is determined in step S407 that the designatedimage forming apparatus is not the image forming apparatus set as adefault (NO of step S407), the process proceeds to step S408. Then, instep S408, the host name of the instance of the data structure and thecorresponding output port are changed (rewritten) into values of thedesignated image forming apparatus. Thereafter, the process proceeds tostep S403 to repeat the process of step S403 through step S406 to createthe print data and the created print data is sent to the image formingapparatus.

In the process illustrated in FIG. 4, the setting whether to change theimage forming apparatus is performed by a graphics user interface (GUI)provided by the output destination designating part 270, and registeredin a flag or a registry setting. In the present embodiment, the imageforming apparatus can be changed according to two modes, a first modeand a second mode. In the first mode, if a user designates changing theimage forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus is forcibly changedduring a period where the output destination is designated as the imageforming apparatus set as a default. In the second mode, the outputdestination of the image forming apparatus, which is to be used, isassigned in accordance with an attribute of a created document.

In the data processing apparatus 110 according to the presentembodiment, the printer driver 260 overwrites the default setting of thedata processing apparatus by rewriting the output destination of theimage forming apparatus, which output destination is set as a default inthe data processing apparatus, in order to change the output destinationinto the image forming apparatus designated by a user and have thedesignated image forming apparatus to perform an output operation. Thus,the data processing apparatus 110 is capable of eliminating an operationmistake in that a wrong image forming apparatus is erroneouslydesignated and used for outputting by eliminating a selection of animage forming apparatus other than the image forming apparatus set as adefault each time a print command is issued. Further, an operation tochange the default setting of an image forming apparatus in response toan attribute of a document created by a user each time is eliminated,which enables more efficient execution of a print command.

FIG. 5 is an illustration indicating a data structure of acorrespondence table 500 managed by the print data processing part 290.The correspondence table 500 is created at a stage where the print dataprocessing part 290 is plugged into the printer driver 260 and the datastructure is examined. If it is determined that condition setting of animage forming apparatus is compatible, attribute values, specifically, ahost name and an IP address, are derived, and the attribute values areregistered by being related to the image forming apparatus from whichthe attribute values are derived.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, values for identifying each image formingapparatus are registered in the correspondence table 500. For example,in the example illustrated in FIG. 5, a model name is used as a valuefor distinguishing whether an image forming apparatus is amulti-function peripheral (MFP) or a page printer (PRT). A host namegiven to each image forming apparatus is registered in a field 520. AnIP address assigned to each image forming apparatus is registered in afield 530. An output port name used when sending print data to eachimage forming apparatus is registered in a field 540. The host name isused when searching an image forming apparatus using a serviceadvertizing protocol such as in NetBEUI. The IP address is used whensending print data to an image forming apparatus using TCP/IP protocol.The output port name is used as a handle or pointer for calling adevice, which sends print data to a set IP address.

If it is determined by the printer driver 260 that changing the imageforming apparatus is set, the data processing apparatus 110 acquires thehost name and the IP address, which designate the set image formingapparatus. Then, the data processing apparatus 110 reads the host name,the output port name and the IP address, if it is necessary, which areset as defaults in the data structure, and writes these parameters in apredetermined address of the data structure. Then, the printer driver260 writes the print data in the port monitor contained in the spooler230 each time the creation of the print data is ended in order to sendthe print data to the host name and the IP address designated by theoutput port name. Thereby, the image forming apparatus to be used as anapparatus to output the print data can be changed in response to akeyword contained in a document.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process of changing an image formingapparatus in a case where the change of the image forming apparatus isperformed in accordance with a keyword contained in a document. Anexecution of the process illustrated in FIG. 6 is started in step S600.In step S601, a search of a text contained in a document is performed toexamine whether the text contains a set keyword. Then, in step S602, itis determined whether the set keyword is detected in the text. If theset keyword is detected (YES of step S602), the process proceeds to stepS603. Then, in step S603, information regarding the image formingapparatus corresponding to the set keyword is acquired by referring to acorrespondence table provided for identifying the keyword and the imageforming apparatus.

Then, in step S604, the host name and the output port name of the datastructure instance are rewritten using the acquired information of theimage forming apparatus. Additionally, in step S604, the print data iswritten in the port monitor of the spooler 230 in an order of ending aconversion into a format specific to the image forming apparatus. Then,in step S605, the print data is sent to the image forming apparatus, andthe process is ended in step S606.

On the other hand, if the set keyword is not detected in step S602 (NOof step S602), the process proceeds to step S605. Then, in step S605,the print data is addressed to the output port name of the image formingapparatus set as a default and written in the port monitor, and theprint data is sent to the image forming apparatus set as a default, and,then, the process is ended in step S606.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of the correspondence table 700 used in theprocess illustrated in FIG. 6. The correspondence table 700 illustratedin FIG. 7 contains a field 710 in which the keyword is registered andfields 720, 730 and 740 in which the identification information of theimage forming apparatus is registered. As the identification informationof the image forming apparatus, a host name is registered in the field720, an IP address is registered in the field 730, and an output portname is registered in the field 740. In the data processing apparatus110, a text contained in a document is searched using the keywordregistered in the field 710 of the correspondence table 700 as asearching word. If the searching word of the field 710 is detected inthe text of the document, the identification information registered inthe corresponding record is acquired. Thereafter, the output destinationcorresponding to the keyword is designated by overwriting thecorresponding address of the data structure instance of the field 720,730 or 740.

In another example, the correspondence table 700 may be provided with anoption field in which a keyword having a priority is registered in acase where a plurality of keywords are detected in the text. If aplurality of keywords are detected in the text, the data processingapparatus 110 selects a keyword having a highest priority by referringto the option field, and applies the selected keyword to the settingprocess of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a network print system according to asecond embodiment of the present invention. The network print system 800illustrated in FIG. 8 processes print requests from a plurality of dataprocessing apparatuses 814, 816, 818 and 820 through a network 830including a local area network (LAN) or the like. The data processingapparatuses 814, 816, 818 and 820 serve as client apparatuses, and,hereinafter, are referred to as client apparatuses. In the presentembodiment, the client apparatuses 814, 816, 818 and 820 are mounted asthin client apparatuses. Here, the term “thin client” means a clientapparatus, which has a function of calling a business server, activatingthe server program mounted in the business server, and executing a printcommand, a send command and a storage command with respect to a documentcreated by the server.

In this respect, the client apparatuses 814 through 820 may be of a typemounting at least a CPU, a BIOS, a RAM, network communication software,and browser software. The client apparatuses 814 through 820 having theabove-mentioned structure issue a process request to a business server810 in order to have a server program of the business server 810 executea substantial process. The client apparatuses 814 through 820 receive aresult of the process from the business server 810, which enablesexecution of a process which a user desires.

The business server 810 may be configured as a Web server, and may be aclient-server-architecture, which performs a process by activating aserver program according to a remote method invocation (RMI) by using anexclusive client program. Upon reception of a print command from theclient apparatuses 814 through 820, the business server 810 has an imageforming apparatus, which corresponds to a specific format designatedfrom the document to the print command, to perform printing.

The printer server 812 receives the print command from the businessserver 810 together with print data, and automatically assigns the printdata to the image forming apparatus assigned to the client apparatus toperform printing. In the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, imageforming apparatuses 814 a through 820 a are assigned to the clientapparatuses 814 through 820, respectively. For example, the clientapparatuses 814 through 820 have the respective image formingapparatuses 814 a through 820 a to perform printing. The clientapparatuses 814 through 820 may be arranged to form a client group tosend a print request to a specific image forming apparatus on anindividual group basis.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the business server 810 isprovided with the function of the data processing apparatus according tothe present embodiment. The printer server may serve as the dataprocessing apparatus according to the present embodiment in response toa specific application and a mounting form. For example, when the clientapparatus 814 is activated, the client apparatus 814 accesses theprinter server 812 to boot a predetermined application, which the clientapparatus 814 executes, and sends data to be processed. The transfer ofdata to be processed can be performed using any known protocolsincluding a known transfer protocol such as, for example, a FTP protocoland an HTTP protocol. A description will be given below, with referenceto FIG. 9, of a process performed by the business server 810.

An execution of the business server 810 is started in step S900. In stepS901, the business server 810 receives the data to be processed and abusiness execution request from the client apparatus 814. In step S902,a print request is sent from the client apparatus 814 after the businessserver 810 completes the requested process. Upon reception of the printrequest from the client apparatus 814 in step S901, the business server810 designates the image forming apparatus set as a default and createsan instance of the format converting part 240. The image formingapparatus set as a default may be provided for a business mode in whichit is not necessary to assign an image forming apparatus to each clientapparatus. Such a business mode in which it is not necessary to assignan image forming apparatus to each client apparatus is a business modein which it is sufficient to select an image forming apparatus inconsideration of a print cost and accessibility to the image formingapparatus when performing printing, for example, at a lowest securitylevel.

The business server 810 acquires, in step S902, an IP address, a clientname, or a MAC address, which uniquely identifies the client apparatus814. Then, the business server 810 acquires, in step S903, the imageforming apparatus assigned to the client apparatus 814 by referring toan image forming apparatus assigning table. The image forming apparatusassigning table may be previously prepared by a manager of the businessserver 810 by registering the client apparatuses and the image formingapparatuses by relating to each other. In step S904, the business server810 acquires the host name, the output port namer the IP address, etc.,of the acquired image forming apparatus, and sets the acquiredinformation as a changed output destination, and performs a formatconversion of an image in the document by using print processor 240 b.

Thereafter, concurrent with the above-mentioned format conversion, thebusiness server 810 rewrites the output port name, the host name and, ifit is necessary, the IP address of the data structure instance. Then, instep S906, the print data is written in the port monitor in an order ofending the image format conversion, and the print data is sent to theprinter server 812, which can cause the designated image formingapparatus to output the print data, and, then, the process is ended instep S906. Upon reception of the print data from the business server810, the printer server 812 activates the printer driver for activatingthe designated image forming apparatus to have the designated imageforming apparatus to output print data.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a GUI screen for designating an imageforming apparatus displayed by the data processing apparatus accordingto the present embodiment. The GUI screen 1000 is displayed by the dataprocessing apparatus 110 if the data processing apparatus 110 serves asa fat client. If the data processing apparatus 110 serves as a thinclient, the GUT screen 1000 is displayed on an management screen of thebusiness server. The GUI screen 1000 is created by the print dataprocessing part 290 added as a plug-in program, which is mounted as aproperty designation wizard of the image processing apparatus. In theGUI screen, a tab “keyword” indicating an execution of a print controlusing a keyword in a print process is displayed. A user can designate animage forming apparatus to be set as an output destination by selectingthe tab “keyword” to have a keyword setting and the keyword to appear onthe GUI screen 1000.

The GUI screen 1000 is provided with an input field 1010 for designatinga title to identify the correspondence table illustrated in FIG. 5 orFIG. 7. Although it is not always needed to give a title to thecorrespondence tables 500 and 700, the correspondence tables 500 and 700are registered with a title in order to select a priority level from adifferent GUI screen as mentioned later.

The GUI screen 1000 is provided with an input field 1020 for a user todesignate a keyword. In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, a bill isset to the keyword in the input field 1020. The GUI screen 1000 is alsoprovided with an input field for setting a name of a print job. The nameof the print job is set as an option. For example, if a text of adocument does not contain a designated keyword but contains a keywordset in the job name, an execution of a process to change the imageforming apparatus is permitted.

The GUT 1000 is provided with radio button 1040. The radio button 1040is provided for setting a logical formula expressing a relationshipbetween a job name and a keyword as a utility of a case where the printjob name is set as a search key. A user is permitted to designate an ORsearch or an AND search with respect to a keyword and a print job namein accordance with a specific purpose. If a user does not designate ajob name, an OR search is set as a default setting.

The GUI 1000 is provided with an input field 1050 for designating aprinter to output in accordance with a designation of a keyword. A checkbox is provided to the input field 1050 to instruct that a userdesignates an image forming apparatus used as an output apparatus. If auser checks the check box, the display of the input field 1050 ischanged from a grayout state to a normal state to permit an inputthereto. If a user checks a check box of “designate a specific printer”,the input field 1050 is turned active, and a host name of image formingapparatus currently registered in the data processing apparatus 110 isdisplayed in the input field 1050.

The GUI 1000 is further provided with a radio button 1060 for setting arange of a document to be searched. After a user completes all settingsand registers the settings by clicking an OK button, the data set ineach input field is registered in the correspondence tables 500 and 700,and the setting of an image forming apparatus to the printer driver 260is completed.

The GUI 1000 illustrated in FIG. 10 provides, for example, a function toforcibly switch from a default image forming apparatus to a singledesignated image forming apparatus during a period in which an instanceof an application is active and until the setting is cancelled. Theexample illustrated in FIG. 10 is preferably used when, for example, auser of the data processing apparatus 110 performs the same kind ofbusiness operation during a designated period such as office hours and abusiness period. In this example, a default image forming apparatus maybe changed each time, but if a setting operation of changing the defaultimage forming apparatus is performed on a case-by-case basis, adesignation error or input error tends to occur and the setting must beperformed for each print job request. However, the present embodimentpermits the image forming apparatus setting information to be registeredcontinuously as a printer property, which can improve businessefficiency.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a GUI screen for automatically assigningan image forming apparatus displayed by the data processing apparatusaccording to the present embodiment. The GUI screen 1100 illustrated inFIG. 11 is displayed by the print data processing part 290. The GUIscreen 1100 is provided with an input field 1110 for designating animage forming apparatus as a destination designated by automaticassignment of an image forming apparatus to be used for print output. Ifa user checks a check box of “Assign printer”, a host name of an imageforming apparatus to be designated is displayed in a field 1120 in aform of a pull-down list.

A user inputs a host name of an image forming apparatus through theinput field 1120. If there is a keyword and another image formingapparatus to be designated, the user clicks an “Add Setting” button 1130to register in the correspondence table 700 the setting values currentlydisplayed on the GUI screen 1100, and, thereafter, a new setting screen(GUI screen) in which each input field is reset, is displayed. Aftercompletion of all settings, the user clicks an “OK” button 1140 tonotify the data processing apparatus 110 of the completion of thesetting. If the user wishes to return to a previous state, the user mayclick a “Cancel” button 1150 to send a notification to the dataprocessing apparatus 110.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 11, the keyword and the job name maybe continuously retained as environmental parameters of the printerdriver while the instance of the application is active, or may be set asenvironmental parameters specific to a printer driver class. Forexample, if the business server 810 is used, the keyword and the jobname may be set as continuous environmental parameters, which permits anefficient execution of print management by a thin client terminal. Onthe other hand, if a fat client terminal is used, the keyword and thejob name may be set as environmental parameters retained during anactive period of an instance of a specific application, which eliminatesan instruction of changing an image forming apparatus for each printcommand in a case of performing a continuous operation such as, forexample, a bill printing operation.

Although the GUI screen 1100 illustrated in FIG. 11 is used in a casewhere an image forming apparatus to be used for printing is assigned foreach keyword, the GUI screen 1100 may be used as a GUI screen forassigning an image forming apparatus to each client apparatus bychanging the input field for setting a keyword into an input field forsetting an identification value of a client apparatus or anidentification value of a group of client apparatuses. In such a case,designation of the present apparatus or the group of client apparatusesmay be made using a pull-down list or the like.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a GUI screen when using a job name as asearch key in the setting operation using the GUI screen 1000illustrated in FIG. 10. The GUI screen 1200 illustrated in FIG. 12 isdisplayed for setting a process if a plurality of keywords are detectedwhen designating a job detection. The GUI 1200 is provided with a listfield 1210 for listing conditions of assigning image forming apparatusand check boxes 1220 and 1230 for performing various settings withrespect to the assigning conditions displayed in the list field 1210.The check box 1220 provides an option to display a selection screenbefore printing if a plurality of keywords are detected so that a usercan check and designate the output destination.

The check box is provided for selecting an option to assign an imageforming apparatus by using a setting file without checking the setting.If a user checks the check box 1230, a GUI screen for creating a settingfile is displayed so that further detailed conditions can be set in acase where a plurality of keywords are detected. After performing eachoption setting, the user clicks a “Close” button 1240 to end theproperty setting of the printer driver.

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a GUI screen displayed when a creation ofa setting file is designated through the GUI screen 1200. The GUI screen1250 illustrated in FIG. 13 permits editing of an existing setting file.An existing setting file can be designated through the GUI screen 1250to edit the existing setting file. A name of a new setting file can alsobe input through the GUI screen 1250 to create the new setting file.

The above-mentioned GUIs can be provided as a setting wizard of aprinter property provided by the printer driver 260 mounted in the dataprocessing apparatus 110 or the business server 810. When performing asetting by selecting a “Property” button of the printer driver 260, auser can optionally set an execution of a print process using adesignation of an image forming apparatus. The setting can be registeredin a register memory or registered as resource data specifically managedby the printer driver 260. Thus, the setting can be registered ascontinuous environmental parameters, which are not changed until thesetting is cancelled by a user or a manager.

As mentioned above, according to the above-mentioned embodiments, a dataprocessing apparatus, a data processing method, a data processingprogram and a recording medium storing the data processing program canbe provided, which can automatically assign a print job by forciblydesignating an image forming apparatus designated by a user, which imageforming apparatus is not an unintended image forming apparatus, under apresent network print environment in which a personal computer and athin client are permitted to access a plurality of image formingapparatuses.

The functions in the above-mentioned embodiments can be realized by acomputer executable program described in an object oriented programminglanguage such as C, C++, C#, Java (registered trademark), etc. Such aprogram can be distributed by storing in a computer readable recordingmedium such as a hard disk drive unit, a CD-ROM, an MO, A flexible disk,a EEPROM, a EPROM, etc., or distributed in a computer readable formthrough a network.

The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosedembodiments, and variations and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

The present application is based on Japanese priority application No.2008-238561 filed on Sep. 17, 2008, the entire contents of which arehereby incorporated herein by reference.

1. A data processing apparatus comprising: an application configured tocreate a document and issue a print request of the document; a printerdriver configured to receive said print request and create print data bysetting a format of said document as a specific format of modeldependency, and change a default output destination of the print datainto a changed output destination; and a spooler configured to receivethe print data and send the print data to one of a plurality of imageforming apparatuses designated by said changed output destinationthrough a network interface.
 2. The data processing apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein said printer driver includes a print data processingpart and an output destination designating part, and wherein said printdata processing part sends the print data to said spooler after changingthe default output destination into the changed output destinationdesignated by said output destination designating part.
 3. The dataprocessing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said print dataprocessing part manages a correspondence table in which said changedoutput destination is registered for each of the plurality of imageforming apparatuses, and wherein said print data processing partdetermines whether a designation to change said default outputdestination has been made, and if the designation to change said defaultoutput destination has been made, said print data processing partacquires said changed output destination corresponding to said one ofsaid image forming apparatuses registered in said correspondence tableand changes said default output destination included in said printrequest into said changed output destination acquired from saidcorrespondence table.
 4. The data processing apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein said print data processing part registers in saidcorrespondence table only one said changed output destination to beforcibly set as an output destination.
 5. The data processing apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein said print data processing part registersin said corresponding table said changed destination output destination,which corresponds to a keyword designated by said output destinationdesignating part.
 6. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1,serving as a server apparatus to perform processing upon reception of arequest from a fat client apparatus or a thin client apparatus.
 7. Adata processing method performed by a data processing apparatus,comprising: creating a document and issuing a print request of thedocument; receiving said print request and creating print data bysetting a format of said document as a specific format of modeldependency, and changing a default output destination of the print datainto a changed output destination; and receiving the print data andsending the print data to one of a plurality of image formingapparatuses designated by said changed output destination through anetwork interface.
 8. The data processing method according to claim 7,wherein said changing a default output destination includes: determiningwhether a designation of changing a default output destination has beenmade; and acquiring said changed output destination corresponding tosaid one of said image forming apparatuses registered in saidcorrespondence table if the designation to change said default outputdestination has been made, and changing said default output destinationincluded in said changed output destination.
 9. The data processingmethod according to claim 8, further comprising: registering in saidcorrespondence table only one said changed output destination to beforcibly set as an output destination.
 10. The data processing methodaccording to claim 8, further comprising: registering in saidcorresponding table said changed destination output destination, whichcorresponds to a keyword designated by said output destinationdesignating part.
 11. The data processing method according to claim 7,wherein said data processing apparatus serves as a server apparatus toperform processing upon reception of a request from a fat clientapparatus or a thin client apparatus.
 12. A computer readable recordingmedium storing a program for causing a computer to perform a dataprocessing method performed by a data processing apparatus, said dataprocessing method comprising: creating a document and issuing a printrequest of the document; receiving said print request and creating printdata by setting a format of said document as a specific format of modeldependency, and changing a default output destination of the print datainto a changed output destination; and receiving the print data andsending the print data to one of a plurality of image formingapparatuses designated by said changed output destination through anetwork interface.